Strategy for Making Ethical Decisions
Chimpanzee Rights
In the early 2010s, Stephen Wise, an attorney from The Nonhuman Rights Project filed several
writs of habeas corpus in New York on behalf of captive chimpanzees. Normally these are filed
on behalf of persons who are held in jail without trial or otherwise unlawfully. But Wise held
that chimps share with humans sufficiently complex psychological capacities, so that they have
similar fundamental rights. Therefore, he argued, chimps and other psychologically sophisticated
mammals should be considered persons in the law, as corporations are. With one exception in
2015 involving a lab chimp held at the State University of New York, judges quickly dismissed
Wises actions. According to a common reply by attorneys for those wishing to keep the animals,
because chimps have no legal duties, they have no legal rights. Wise was not seeking complete
freedom for these nonhumans but only their removal from cages and release in one of the eight
primate sanctuaries in North America. To support his actions, he presented evidence about
primate psychology from scientists who study them. Questions to consider here include: a) What
might that evidence have consisted of? b) Is the common reply by the defense convincing? c)
What other objections might Mr. Wise have encountered and how might he respond? d) What
would be the consequences of his views for zoos or animal farming?
ANALYSIS
1. This is a case about attorney Stephen Wise filing a case to protect chimps. He states that
chimps are psychologically sophisticated and therefore have the right to be treated as
such. He was not seeking complete freedom for them, the for the removal of cages and to
be released to animal sanctuaries.
2. The issue is whether chimps should be held at that respect level. Should be not be
allowed to be in cages? Should they be treated as the intelligent creatures they are and get
the housing freedom they deserve? They should not be treated like lab rats. They are
nonhuman animals but still do not deserve to be stuck in cages with all rights revoked.
3. Possible outcomes are letting the chimps free into the wild. They could put tracking
devices on them for further studies. They could keep them in animal sanctuaries where
they will still be captive but have more freedom. The worst solution is leaving them in
cages where they may get frustrated and turn aggressive from the lack of available
resources. This could affect the studies as well if they are not cooperative from being kept
in inhumane conditions.
4. Possible outcomes are stated in the previous answer. The main idea is the chimp still has
rights. It is not a lab rat. Chimps are highly intelligent animals. They may not have legal
rights, but they deserve more than just a small cage. Lab rats are not on the same level as
chimps. The cages they are in are suitable for the type of animal they are. Chimps need
more of a natural environment with space in order to be happy. Depending on the studies
that are being conducted, keeping them in cages may not be the best for the results.
5. If they are kept in
